Black Women at the Intersection of Mental Health, Stigma, Genderism, Racism & Classism in Germany

Drawing on Grada Kilomba’s (2016) groundbreaking work, this study revisits (post-)colonial experiences of racism in the everyday lives of Black women in Germany. By analyzing in-depth interview data, this research explores evidence suggesting that a situation of saturated disadvantage reinforced by the multilayered impact of structural, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized racism across a plethora of urban spaces, including education, employment, housing, retail, and public transportation, can and does significantly impair mental health and the quality of life. As part of a counterhegemonic strategy, the study focuses on Black women who self-identify as having an African background. Following the recommendation given by the United Nations Human Rights Council (2017), we do this in order not to understate our collective legacy of disadvantage. A noteworthy finding is that exposure to institutional racism in psychiatry and clinical psychology plays an accompanying role in maintaining poor mental health outcomes associated with saturated disadvantage. This research critically examines dominance, ideology, and inequity, drawing attention to the need for structural actions in mental health training. Overall, this research serves as an essential call for attention to address the entrenched challenges to more productively and fruitfully contribute to the support of our community.